Much of developmental psychology is not worth doing

This paper critically examines the prevalence of age comparison studies in developmental psychology. It argues that many such studies, which aim to determine when children acquire adult-like abilities, lack clear theoretical justification. The critique is framed within broader discussions of research priorities in psychology, drawing parallels to past trends in neuroscience where initial fascination with brain localization gave way to more theoretically driven research. Questioning the value of studies motivated primarily by publication rather than theoretical advancement, the paper advocates for a shift towards research that addresses fundamental questions about developmental mechanisms. Implications for research design and the future direction of developmental psychology are discussed.